Is Homeschooling a Good Fit for Your Family?

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Homeschooling is a great way to provide your kids with a quality, personalized education while also helping them to develop a strong moral character and the essential life skills they’ll need to grow and mature into thriving, independent adults.

Homeschooling is also a big commitment though. And while it does offer many great benefits, it can be challenging to be both the parent and the teacher and successfully balance home and school life.

When my husband, David, and I were considering homeschooling, we attended a local support group meeting for prospective homeschoolers. The presentation introduced us to the basics and afterward, we casually chatted with homeschooling parents in all different phases of their homeschool journey. I’m now a veteran homeschool mom of 16 years, so if you’re wondering if homeschooling is a good fit for your family, here are some things to consider.

What Does Homeschooling Involve?

If you have the opportunity to attend an introductory presentation as we did, please do so. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) offers a free tool to search for homeschool support groups in your area.

If not, grab a cup of tea or your favorite beverage, curl up on the couch, and learn all about homeschooling from three longtime homeschool moms—Cait and Kara a.k.a. The Homeschool Sisters, and Jaimie, founder of Simple Homeschool. Listen to these wonderful podcasts free on their websites or on Spotify. Cait and Kara also take questions from listeners and then answer on air.

The HSLDA also has a great beginner article series.

Even though homeschooling is legal in every state, in every province of Canada, and in many foreign countries, requirements vary widely. You’ll need to read the homeschool law for your state, province, or country and be sure you fully understand what is required. If you don’t understand something, get help. Your best resource for help is your state homeschool association, which is typically staffed by volunteer veteran homeschool parents. The HSLDA has a free comprehensive list of statewide associations.

Is Homeschooling Affordable?

It certainly can be.

The biggest expense is providing books and materials, which can add up depending on how many kids you plan to teach.

You do have a lot of options, though. These days, with the growing popularity of homeschooling, there are countless resources available and many are low-cost or free. Public libraries are also a great resource because they often have a variety of donated homeschool books and materials as well as fun educational programs throughout the year.

There are also reputable websites where you can buy gently used homeschooling books and materials or you can even swap materials with other homeschooling families in your area. For more tips and advice on budget-friendly homeschooling, be sure to read this article: Homeschooling the Low-Cost Way.

Is Homeschooling Compatible With Your Lifestyle?

I was already a stay-at-home mom, so homeschooling was an easy transition. Ideally, homeschooling works best when one parent is at home full time, or at the very least, the majority of the time, even if he or she works at home.

However, one of the benefits of homeschooling is its adaptability. Even if both parents work, they have a lot of leeway to get creative with the school schedule because homeschooling has no boundaries. Perhaps one parent can explore working from home or rearrange work hours or the schedule.

You can also homeschool in the evenings, on Saturdays, on snow days, and if you like, on non-religious holidays such as Veterans Day and Flag Day and spend the day learning about the history of the holiday and why we celebrate.

For those of you who travel for work, or travel often to visit family, you may want to try roadschooling. Visit the Nomads With a Purpose website and read their Ultimate Guide to Roadschooling.

Length of Commitment

While homeschooling does require a commitment, do remember, you have the freedom to start and stop at any time.

It is best, though, if you can commit to a semester or, better yet, an entire school year because this will give you ample time to decide if homeschooling is a good fit for your family.

Personality and Philosophy of Education

Do you love to learn?

When you greet each new day with an explorer’s spirit, you will discover that the energy and excitement are catchy. It’s motivational, and it’s at the heart of a thriving homeschool.

What is your philosophy of education? Or maybe you’ve never thought about it. I didn’t until I considered homeschooling my two kids. So, take some time and think about how you’d like to approach teaching. What are your goals? How would you like your kids to feel about learning?

My kids were already avid explorers by the time we started homeschooling. So after a ton of research, I embraced the eclectic style of homeschooling—I blended together the philosophies of Maria Montessori, Charlotte Mason, and Reggio Emilia. We spent our days immersed in fascinating unit studies, hands-on projects, nature study, and art and music appreciation. We read folktales, biographies, poetry, and Shakespeare plays. And we used books and materials from a variety of homeschooling publishers. And, today, I’m delighted to say, my two grown kids are still exploring.

If you need help, visit Eclectic Homeschooling: Raising Global Kids, and take the free homeschool philosophy quiz.

Special Circumstances

Homeschooling truly does give you abundant freedom to create an individualized course of instruction. This works especially well if you have a child with special needs. Through the Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA) children with special needs are given a free public education including any special services; however, you’ll need to check with your state department of education to learn if your state allows homeschoolers to receive these benefits.

Also, visit the SPED Homeschooling website, which works to empower parents and guide and assist them in homeschooling their kids with unique learning needs.

Or perhaps you have a star athlete, a violin virtuoso, a talented artist, or budding actor. Some homeschool parents create a personalized curriculum with a unique balance of academics and extra-curricular education and activities. Also, check with your local school district to find out if they allow homeschooler participation. If either of these paths is not an option, consider if your child would reap more benefits by attending a traditional school.